You Can Play is a social activism campaign dedicated to the eradication of homophobia in sports, centered on the slogan, "If you can play, you can play." The campaign was launched on March 4, 2012, by its three co-founders: Patrick Burke (a scout for the Philadelphia Flyers and son of former Toronto Maple Leafs GM Brian Burke), Brian Kitts, and Glenn Witman (both of GForce Sports).[1] The campaign was precipitated by the death of Brendan Burke, son of Brian and brother of Patrick. You Can Play is an official partner of the National Hockey League. The current executive director of the organization is Wade Davis.

Prior to his death, Brendan Burke was known for his efforts to combat homophobia in hockey. Brendan, a student manager for the Miami UniversityRedHawks hockey team, came out publicly in 2009 as an openly gay man through an article written for ESPN.com by John Buccigross.[2] Brendan appeared with father Brian on the Canadian channel TSN during an intermission of a nationally televised hockey game to discuss his sexuality and his father's acceptance. Brendan said, "I think it's important my story is told to people because there are a lot of gay athletes out there and gay people working in pro sports that deserve to know there are safe environments where people are supportive regardless of your sexual orientation."[3] Brendan died in a car crash on February 5, 2010. He was 21 years old.[4]

Brian and Patrick continued to combat homophobia in the NHL after Brendan's death; Patrick, along with Brian Kitts and Glenn Witman, founded You Can Play as a tribute to his brother.[5] The name You Can Play originates from a piece Patrick Burke wrote for outsports.com. In the piece, Patrick talks about the overwhelmingly positive experience surrounding Brendan's coming out: "I waited to get a negative email, or to read a damning article, or to hear a snide comment at a game. I waited, and I waited, and I waited ... and I got what I should have expected the entire time: love, support, and admiration." He talks of letters and emails that poured in to his family, and he also talks of fellow scouts and hockey personnel pulling him aside and giving their support. He summarizes his feelings in the revelation that across the hockey world, what matters is whether or not you can play. "If you can play, we welcome you." [6] The quote was adapted to the catchier "If you can play, you can play" by the campaign.

You Can Play had its genesis in early 2011 at an event at the University of Denver, at which Glenn Witman had asked Patrick to be a guest speaker. Witman also invited Brian, and their casual conversations led to the eventual founding and launch of You Can Play.[7]

On March 4, 2012, the You Can Play Project released a video called "The Faceoff".[8] In it, Patrick Burke and Brian Burke introduced the You Can Play Project, stating that their aim is to "carry on [Brendan's] legacy, and ensure that LGBT athletes around the world are afforded equal opportunity; judged only by their talent, character, and work ethic in their sport." The video features appearances from prominent NHL players Rick Nash, Duncan Keith, Claude Giroux, Matt Moulson, Daniel Alfredsson, Corey Perry, Henrik Lundqvist, and other popular NHL players. The video was uploaded to YouTube and aired during a Bruins-Rangers game.[9] It was produced by HBO and aired originally by NBC.[10] "The Faceoff" won the 2012 GLAAD Amplifier Award.[11]

On August 20, 2013, Patrick Burke stepped aside as the main voice of You Can Play and named Wade Davis executive director of the organization.[15] Burke remained with the organization in a less public role[16] until March 2017, when he stepped down from the organization completely.[17] In September 2016, Chris Mosier joined the organization as Vice President of Program Development and Community Relations[18] and Wade Davis moved from Executive Director to Director of Professional Sports.[19]

You Can Play aims to rid professional sports of "casual homophobia" in the locker room.[20] Their approach emphasizes education rather than punishment or blame.[21]

The You Can Play mission statement reads as follows:

You Can Play is dedicated to ensuring equality, respect and safety for all athletes, without regard to sexual orientation and/or gender identity.

You Can Play works to guarantee that athletes are given a fair opportunity to compete, judged by other athletes and fans alike, only by what they contribute to the sport or their team's success.

You Can Play seeks to challenge the culture of locker rooms and spectator areas by focusing only on an athlete's skills, work ethic and competitive spirit.[22]

Patrick Burke has been quoted as saying, "The end goal of our project is that we're completely useless. We want the day to come when it's not a story when an athlete comes out, when athletes are only judged by how they can help their teams win." [23] In March 2012, Burke stated that he believed the NHL would see a current player come out within the next two years.[24]

The You Can Play website promotes an initiative called the "Captain's Challenge," encouraging team captains from various sports, no matter the level of competition, to sign a form in support of You Can Play and its message. The challenge reads:

As a team captain, I pledge to respect the talents and work of all my teammates. I will encourage my teammates to speak up for each other when confronted with slurs of any sort in the locker room or on the playing field. And I'll start discussions that promote the acceptance of all of my teammates in order to build trust and a winning ethic.[25]

You Can Play intends to release a playbook about casual homophobia as a resource for athletes and sports officials to help ensure safety for LGBT people in their communities.[26]

Brian Burke appeared on TVOntario in July 2012 to talk about You Can Play. In response to a question about whether the NHL is ready to accept gay players, he said, "Before we started, we went to the NHL and said, 'Does this have your support?' and Gary Bettman was like, 'Absolutely.' He knew Brendan, and he was like, 'Absolutely, that day can't come soon enough.'"[59] On April 11, 2013, the NHL and NHLPA announced an official partnership with You Can Play, including a commitment to educate prospects on LGBT issues and provide avenues for players to seek confidential counseling related to sexual orientation.[60]

Landeskog's support in January 2014 made history because it meant that each National Hockey League team had at least one player supporting The You Can Play Project.[27] In December 2016, Anders Nilsson began wearing a mask with a gay pride flag painted on the back as a sign that ice hockey welcomes diversity, drawing praise from Wade Davis for "taking a risk on multiple fronts and standing up for something that he believes in, knowing the backlash that could come his way."[49]

On February 2, 2017, the NHL and its partners announced as part of Hockey is for Everyone month that each of its 30 member teams will have one player designated as a You Can Play ambassador.[36]

Several American Hockey League teams have created videos for You Can Play and/or taken the You Can Play Pledge, a pledge to support the campaign's principles signed by the entire organization. These teams include:

In March 2012, the Soo Greyhounds of the Ontario Hockey League became the first Major Junior team to contribute to the You Can Play project.[109]

On October 12, 2012, You Can Play published a video from DC United of Major League Soccer. This was the campaign's first public service announcement from a professional sports league outside of the NHL, as well as the first outside of hockey.[110] Two months later Toronto FC became the second MLS team, and the first Canadian soccer team, to support You Can Play.[111] The following year, in 2013, Major League Soccer and the Major League Soccer Players Union partnered with You Can Play. "The diversity found in our league has always been a point of pride for us," said MLS Commissioner Don Garber. "We are proud to partner with You Can Play to ensure that all of our fans and players know that MLS is committed to providing a safe environment where everyone is treated equally, and with dignity and respect."[112]

On December 20, 2012, You Can Play announced an official partnership with the Canadian Women's Hockey League. In a statement, Patrick Burke said, "LGBT female athletes face a different set of problems than male athletes, but those problems are no less serious. This partnership will encourage both LGBT athletes and their numerous straight allies to speak up for each other, without fear of recrimination from teammates, coaches, fans, or sponsors." The CWHL is the first league to partner with You Can Play.[113]

In June 2017, U.S. Soccer partnered with You Can Play. The U.S. Men's and Women's National Teams wore pride-inspired rainbow numbers during the June friendlies. One set of game-issued jerseys from each team was auctioned for You Can Play.

Akil Patterson, a former University of Maryland athlete and aspiring Olympian in Greco-Roman Wrestling, contributed a video to the project, talking in detail about his struggles with addiction and his own sexuality.[121]

Jon Cornish of the Calgary Stampeders received a lot of media attention in 2012 when, after a practice during Grey Cup week, he revealed to reporters that his mother was a lesbian. His open admission of his mother's sexual orientation was part of a growing trend of acceptance of homosexuality and gave him "a seat at the head table of the You Can Play movement."[122] Then, in late 2013, Cornish released his own very brief video of support for the project, in which he said he "is proud to support LGBT athletes everywhere."[123]

The band Fun joined the list of celebrity supporters when its video was published in November 2013.[124] Each member of the band discussed his respective aspirations to be an athlete if he was not in the music industry, and stressed the fact that together the group "make[s] music for everyone."[125]

Rapper Macklemore of Macklemore & Ryan Lewis added a video to the project, in which he talked about the need to be welcoming to everyone and that homophobic language has no place in sports or music. The duo's song Same Love was about the subject of homosexuality and gay rights, and was a big success on charts around the world.[126]

Since You Can Play has gained widespread support and recognition by North American professional leagues, they have been called to comment on challenging instances of homophobia involving professional athletes.

In July 2012, Cam Janssen of the New Jersey Devils appeared on an internet radio talk show, making several derogatory and threatening jokes involving women, gay-bashing, and his role on his team as an enforcer.[128] After speaking with Patrick Burke, Janssen apologized for his comments and expressed his support for You Can Play, and the campaign released a statement saying they believe Janssen's apology to be sincere.[129]

On September 15, 2012, Yunel Escobar, then a shortstop for the Toronto Blue Jays, played a game with a homophobic slur written in Spanish across his eye black. In response, the Blue Jays suspended their player for three games.[130] Twelve days later, Yunel sat down with Patrick Burke and LGBT athlete Jose Estevez to discuss the incident. Patrick Burke left the meeting feeling confident in the interaction between Yunel and Jose. He is quoted as saying: "I thought the meeting was very productive. Yunel seemed genuinely interested in what Jose had to say, and appeared to really take it to heart. I think Jose did a tremendous job of making Yunel fully grasp the implications behind his actions."[131]

Just prior to the 2013 Super Bowl, Chris Culliver of the San Francisco 49ers responded as follows to an interview question about whether he had any gay teammates: "We don't have any gay guys on the team ... They gotta get up outta here if they do. Can't be with that sweet stuff." You Can Play, GLAAD, and Athlete Ally released a joint statement condemning these views. Culliver subsequently apologized and pledged to grow from the experience.[132]

The 2014 Winter Olympics caused a stir given the controversial status of LGBT rights in Russia, the host country, that prevented gay propaganda from being spread, and threatened jail time and punishment for those who disobeyed the law. You Can Play sought out many options aimed at protesting the Games, but none were viable options because of the fine line "between advocating" for the LGBT community, "and exploiting" it.[133]
Instead they worked with groups who would not only be able to do work during the Olympics, but continue to do work once the Games finished. Another decision You Can Play made was to partner with Grantland, which wasn't without controversy.
Grantland was criticized after it ran an article revealing the transsexual background of a doctor without her consent,[134] which needed two follow up pieces from the editor-in-chief [135] as well as a contributor, who is also on the board of directors of GLAAD,[136] to explain why the story was run.
After discussing both internally and with supporters, however, You Can Play made the decision to remain partnered with Grantland for the duration of the Olympic Games. You Can Play's role was to provide the link between the sports perspective in the stories and the LGBT community's perspective.[133]

On April 19, 2016, during Game 4 of the Chicago Blackhawks' first-round series against the St. Louis Blues, Andrew Shaw was penalized for interference with 2:04 remaining in the third period while the Blackhawks down by a goal. He was recorded using an anti-gay slur during a tirade in the penalty box, and the recording circulated widely on social media. As a result, the NHL suspended him for Game 5, fined him $5,000 for related hand gestures, and ordered him to undergo sensitivity training.[137] The following day Shaw apologized to the gay and lesbian community saying "That's not the type of guy I am" and that "I have no excuses for ..." getting caught up in the heat of the competition.[138] After the press conference, Shaw personally apologized to Chicago Tribune reporter Chris Hine, who is gay.[139] Blackhawks captain Jonathan Toews, who had previously recorded a You Can Play video,[29] said the incident was a learning experience for Shaw.[138] After being traded to the Montreal Canadiens during the off-season, Shaw volunteered to be the team's ambassador to You Can Play as "a leader in the locker room and in the community on diversity, equality and inclusion."[140][141] The announcement was met by skepticism by some.[142]